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Megan Jones is a Toronto-based writer and editor for Alzlive. She is the former editor-in-chief at the Ryerson Review of Journalism, and has written for Alzlive, Maisonneuve and The Grid. She nerds out about mental health, gender, cities and subcultures.

Megan Jones is a Toronto-based writer and editor for Alzlive. She is the former editor-in-chief at the Ryerson Review of Journalism, and has written for Alzlive, Maisonneuve and The Grid. She nerds out about mental health, gender, cities and subcultures.

Articles by Megan Jones

Julie Macfie Sobol wakes up to a whirlwind of blankets: her husband, Ken Sobol, is tearing the bed apart. He is throwing the sheets back and forth above her head. “I can’t get the damn covers right!” he says. Ken tries a few more combinations—a quilt with a blanket, two blankets, the quilt alone—before…

Dolls? Horses? Connect Four? Believe it or not, these things can act as therapies for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Check out the quirky list below. See what other seemingly strange things can help your loved ones. 1) Aroma Therapy Several essential oils—like Lavender, Peppermint,…

United States- and Canada-based Home Instead Senior Care franchise owners have pledged more than 37,000 hours of in-home care services, valued at $740,000, to supplement the monetary funding provided by Hilarity for Charity for the Alzheimer’s Care Grant Program. We sat down with actress and comedy…

Alzheimer's and dementia have touched millions of people in 2014, some of them quite well known. It can be tremendously difficult to open up about Alzheimer's—especially if you're doing it in the public eye. Here, Alzlive pays tribute to those who disclosed their dementia this year, and to those…

You sacrifice sleep and a social life to care for your loved one. You frantically try to balance work and the partner or parent you have waiting at home. You feel stressed, guilty, angry, unbearably exhausted. And it’s been going on for years. Because of the tremendous load caregivers sometimes take…

While most are aware that Alzheimer’s disease progresses in stages, many are still confused about what those stages entail. This is particularly true in North America, where the American health system recognizes seven stages of Alzheimer’s while the Canadian system is modelled on three. In order…

A new test could detect Alzheimer’s up to ten years before symptoms appear, The Telegraph reports. While other tests have been in development for some time, this one can predict the farthest into the future. The test was presented at an American health conference, and is sponsored by the California-based…

Tom Magliozzi, co-host of Car Talk, has died as a result of complications from Alzheimer’s disease, NPR reports. He was 77. Magliozzi hosted Car Talk with his brother, Ray, and together they were known as "Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers.” The show humorously covered automobiles and automotive…

Overwhelmed? Lotsa Helping Hands is website that helps caregivers with a community approach. Once signed up, users can post specific tasks they need help with to a specially designed "Help Calendar" on the site – like preparing meals for the family or providing rides to medical appointment. Volunteers…

Having a written source of best practices, stories, and experiences from those who’ve been there can be enriching and useful to add to one’s set of skills. The list here comprises scientific, medical books as well as fictional accounts that have inspired, counseled and influenced those who participate…

Researchers from Toronto Western Hospital have potentially discovered a major cause of dementia. The surprising culprits are tiny “mini-strokes” happening silently in the brain, which damage the organ’s white matter and lead to cognitive decline. Dr. Daniel Mandell of the University Health Network…

I can say with the utmost certainty that my grandma has no idea who Salt-N-Pepa are. It’s hard to tell whether this group of seniors has an affinity for '80s hip hop or not. But either way, the residents at the Las Vegas-based Willow Creek Independent & Assisted Living centre sure can bust a move.…

Boomers won’t take old-style seniors’ homes lying down; they want to do things their way. Janet Torge’s original scheme was this: assemble a group of middle-aged men and women, storm into a long-term care home and take it over. Stream through the doors. Kick out the staff. Occupy the rooms. Maybe…

When it comes to dementia care, Japan has fallen behind in a number of ways—but there's still a lot North Americans can learn from the grassroots work being done there. According to The Guardian, Japan, which has the world’s fastest ageing population, is already home to 4.6 million people living…

Drifting out of an anesthetic haze, it’s common for those who have just undergone surgery to temporarily experience memory lapses, confusion and a shorter attention span. But when these symptoms are prolonged, is it possible that general anesthesia can trigger dementia in older adults? The answer,…

When your loved one is prone to wandering: 1. Camouflage: Make doors and doorknobs less visible by painting them the same colours as the walls. 2. Cover Doorknobs: Use a loose-fitting cover so the cover turns instead of the knob. 3. Install Alarms: Wire beds and doors with alarms so you will be notified…

One website has taken it upon themselves to fully explore that trickiest of legal responsibilities, the substitute decision maker – a project whose time has come. After becoming a caregiver for both her parents, Mary Bart took to the Internet, looking for help. Bart was her parents’ substitute decision…

When your child’s grandparent is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s: 1. Be Honest. Give children a simple explanation of AD, and the changes they can expect to see. 2. Help Connect. Encourage your child to continue their relationship to grandparent through activities like reading, going for walks or listening…

If your loved one refuses in-home care because they want to maintain independence, here's what you can do: 1. Get feedback. Involve your loved one in the decision-making and ask their preferences. This may help them feel more comfortable with the outcome. 2. Suggest a trial. Allowing your loved one…

If your loved one is refusing to eat: 1. Limit Distractions: Turn off background noise and remove clutter from the table to help the person focus on the meal. 2. Use Colours: Serve food on high-contrasting tableware (ex. white plate on a red mat). Studies have shown this helps people with Alzheimer’s…